Intermission

Author's Note: Now comes the part of the story that I add quite a bit to. I hope I do well with this new content! The remainder of the plot's events will play out similarly to the original game, though.

The Underground positively buzzed with excitement. Between Mettaton's latest show and stories of his co-star's adventures over roughly the last week spreading like wildfire, the entire kingdom was in higher spirits than it had been for a long time. One could hardly walk for ten minutes without coming across some reference to the spectacles of media, and with rumors that King Asgore would soon meet the newcomer personally caused an even larger stir. Could they somehow cooperate to destroy the Barrier? Could the visitor from above who'd captured the hearts of monsters everywhere decide to remain there with them? What if things turned violent between them? UnderNet in particular was ablaze with debates over whether King Asgore should try to stop his imminent guest. The Kingdom of Monsters held its breath, waiting to see what fate had in mind.

However, some remained out of touch with the media. As Frisk the Human set out to deliver Undyne's letter to Doctor Alphys, a similarly-sized monster was on a mission of his own. The smooth-scaled creature scurried through one of Waterfall's outskirt villages, darting between buildings and hiding in shrubs as he stalked his target. Large white eyes narrowed when the magical sensation drawing him closer intensified.

The thief was near, and he still carried something of great value.

There was no danger of the small monster being recognized or even identified, but he didn't want to leave anything up to chance. He peered out from a patch of seaweed to see the individual he was looking for, standing not far away and facing the other direction. Despite that particular area being very dark, there was no mistaking him: Recycler, an unsubtle yet surprisingly cunning burglar who prized himself on putting his "trophies" to good use.

Indeed, not a single garment he wore genuinely belonged to him, from his professional suit to his casual shoes to the eerie smiling mask he constantly had on. He was notorious for his supposed talent of appearing wherever he wished at a moment's notice, swiping an object of value, and vanishing without a trace just as quickly. Two things were certain about Recycler: he seemed capable of only talking in rhymes, and he frequently boasted about his natural teleportation before escaping the authorities.

"Not even his power belongs to him…"

The small monster following him could attest to the former from personal experience, but the latter fact was entirely untrue. Recycler, like most monsters, didn't have the ability to teleport. Instead, he simply made use of the very first thing he'd stolen almost a decade and a half earlier: a shard of a dull white leg bone. This item could heavily distort space around it and warp the holder almost anywhere within the Barrier he so wished, having been taken from a haphazardly-locked laboratory.

Just thinking about it made the small monster's blood boil. And now, with Recycler so carelessly standing in the marsh's tall grass, he could finally make things right. He crept through the plant matter toward the suited being and tried to determine how to go about this. Regrettably, his puny body lacked most offensive capabilities. No claws, no weapons, very little potential for magic attacks, and he didn't even have arms. All he had was a set of somewhat sharp teeth and a sturdy lizard tail.

"Regardless… I have to at least try. I may not be able to find him again."

After getting a bit closer, the small monster realized that his target was cradling the very bone he sought in his arms and staring into space. Perhaps the powerful item caused him more mental stress than he thought. All the better to make him unassuming and easily-ambushed, and that weakness was immediately exploited.

With a sudden lunge, the reptilian monster sank his teeth into the gloved hand of the burglar. The attack caught him off guard, and Recycler didn't have time to react before his assailant swiped his tail at the bone fragment. It sailed out of his hands, landing somewhere in a nearby patch of seaweed. Shaking his arm in an attempt to dislodge the creature's teeth, he growled out a rhyme as usual.

"How dare you harm my poor palm, worm?! I, Recycler, will make you burn!"

"You're losing your touch if that's the best rhyme you have," the small monster said in a muffled voice before being flung off the thief's hand at last.

He landed hard on his feet and stared up at his much taller foe. Fortunately for him, being shrouded by the grass made up for his height disadvantage. Recycler brandished a weapon- a stolen Royal Guard's sword- and hacked away at the plants before him in a frenzy. The reptilian monster carefully sidestepped him and made for the fallen bone. It magically pulled at him, calling him closer until he was right on top of it. Not having arms didn't trouble him; he'd prepared for the occasion by bringing a small bag to carry the bone in.

Recycler heard the rustling seaweed as he hurriedly stuffed the item into the bag. Cackling, he charged straight at the shorter monster.

"Aha, I've found you at last! Prepare yourself, your death comes fast!"

"Your poetry is atrocious!" he shouted, leaping up and connecting with the thief in a direct headbutt.

The small creature's very mind felt like it had been struck with a hammer, but he was otherwise fine; having a scaly hide had its perks now and then. However, the same couldn't be said for Recycler. His smiling mask was cracked down the middle from the impact, and he toppled backwards with a groan.

Silence fell on the area as their brief struggle ended. Seeing as the defeated party hadn't been killed, the small monster's soul showed no increase in LOVE or EXP.

"That's a relief. Now, what to do with you..."

He dragged the unconscious Recycler toward the river with his teeth and waited there for almost ten minutes (keeping a close eye on him) until something appeared from around a wall of the cavern.

"Tra la la… hello there, little one… would you like to take a ride on my boat?"

River Person, something of a minor celebrity yet also an enigma in the Underground, approached with the same nonchalant droning voice as ever.

"Yes, please. Can you bring the two of us to Hotland?"

"Of course I can. Haul him aboard."

As the small monster dragged Recycler onto the boat, River Person hummed thoughtfully and began the ride.

"Tra la la… say, your friend looks like that thief…"

"He is. I'm bringing him in."

"That's nice… he stole my oars, you know."

He frowned, hoping that the Hotland Royal Guard would be able to find where he'd hidden his stolen goods.

"I'm very sorry to hear that, River Person."

"Tra la la… that's fine. I've never even owned oars."

Perhaps it would be best NOT to question the logic behind that. As the ride continued, their "captain" sang more and more to nobody in particular.

"Beware of the man… who speaks in hands…"

"What do you mean by that?"

River Person didn't turn to look at the small gray monster, but unusually decided to answer a rider's question.

"The man who speaks in hands… the man who oversaw the construction of our Core, and who vanished one day long ago… tra la la… his name eludes me at the moment. Beware him, for he… is very clumsy with fire magic. He burned my boat once."

The small monster cringed slightly and looked down to his left. Sure enough, an old but sizeable scorch mark could be seen on the side of the boat.

"I'm sure he didn't mean to-"

"Tra la la… here we are."

He didn't have a chance to say much else to River Person before the boat departed again. The lizard dragged Recycler onto Hotland's shore and left him there until a Royal Guard patrol came along. Recognizing the thief, they arrested him without hesitation as the small monster watched from a nearby hiding spot.

"Justice served… and I got the bone shard, too. All that's left is…"

Doctor Alphys' laboratory didn't take very long to walk to. The monster arrived just in time to see her leaving in a nervous sweat and a garish-looking dress with Frisk the Human, who admittedly wasn't in much better attire. They appeared to be heading toward the next junction of the river.

"Perfect..."

He knew that Alphys had neglected to lock the door behind her, as she often did. That bad habit of hers normally would have caused him irritation, but this time it was just what he needed.

The monster entered her laboratory and stared at a certain door which had also been left unlocked, leading to an elevator. If his predictions were correct, the human would come this way soon. He stepped inside, beginning to descend into the lower lab.

It was time to see just how determined Frisk was.